UW FUNDRAISER PROVES CRACKER JACK IDEA; PROMOTION SELLS OUT SATURDAY; $21,700 RAISED IN TWO DAYS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The last of 25,000 boxes of Cracker Jack sold out Saturday evening, bringing the promotion to a close one day earlier than planned.

The event generated about $21,700 for the Area Wide United Way.

"It's amazing," said Elizabeth Chastain, marketing director for West Park Mall. "The response has been overwhelming."

The Cracker Jack promotion celebrates the mall's 10th anniversary and benefits the Area Wide United Way. It began Friday and was scheduled to continue through today.

Dorothy Klein, executive director of the United Way, said Saturday afternoon, "I think right now we're all a little bit overwhelmed at what has happened.

"We thought this would be a success," Klein said. "But we didn't expect quite this turnout in a two-day period."

Chastain added: "Needless to say we're elated. It's not only a good event to mark the mall's 10th anniversary, it's also a great way to support the United Way."

When making plans, Chastain said, she expected the promotion to last three days.

"But this is something that is hard to estimate," Chastain said. "This is the first time we've tried this so we had to go on traffic counts and advertising to estimate how many boxes to buy.

"We did anticipate a pretty good response," Chastain said. "But the response has been great. Obviously we underestimated it."

Boxes of Cracker Jack were given away for a suggested $1 donation to the United Way.

More than 750 prizes, including 14 grand prizes, were given away in the boxes of caramel-coated popcorn.

"We've given away everything from an order of french fries to a $1,100 diamond ring," said Klein.

Winners who have not claimed prizes have until March 10 to do so.

"I was most surprised at the response on Friday," Chastain said. "Saturday is usually a high traffic day for us. But Friday was really busy."

A fashion show at center court Friday night drew the largest crowd ever for a center court event, she said.

"This is probably our busiest Saturday ever also," she said.

"We had a lot of exciting grand prize winners Friday. The event generated a lot of community support," Chastain said.

Among winners Saturday afternoon was Nancy Anthony of Advance. She won a $500 shopping spree at Famous Barr.

"I came with my sister who wanted to come up and buy some Cracker Jack," Anthony said. "I didn't really know about the promotion. I wanted to buy some shoes."

She bought two boxes and the grand prize was in the first box. Anthony said she would buy her new shoes, along with some new clothes for herself and her daughter, with the shopping spree prize.

"I think this is great. I love it," she said, waiting to claim her prize. "I never win anything, never. I think they should have this more often."

Also this weekend, booths are set up in the mall from many agencies which receive funding from the United Way.

Many people walking through the mall Saturday carried with them several boxes of Cracker Jack. People were lined up to buy more boxes. Patrons were also lined up to have their blood pressure checked.

The mall picked up the cost of purchasing the Cracker Jack and advertising the event. The United Way is also helping to defray the costs, Chastain said.